And if you have any of these cars in your Forza 3 garage, you will have them carry over to Forza 4:

This particular table is actually looking more important. Based on reports from folks with preview copies of the game, it sounds like the following cars will now be unicorns in Forza 4, so the import from Forza 3 will be something of loyalty bonus for long time players of the series:
2007 430 Scuderia
2007 Gallardo Superleggera

So be sure you have at the very least those two in your Forza 3 garage before you start Forza 4.

I think the ZR1, the 458 Italia, and the LF-A were all DLC and hence that import is also a bit of a loyalty bonus, and obviously the other three cars were the Forza 3 unicorns so that import makes sense. Still no idea about the secret import car though -- preview players are being shockingly tight lipped about that.

Thanks for the heads up. I've been trying to figure out what to buy on that list and yesterday figured out that I don't have about half of those as an option anyway. I really wanted the LF-A but never upgraded to F3 Ultimate with the Top Gear stuff.

Well, they will be available, just not through the in game car dealership. Turn 10 uses unicorns as prizes and rewards for community events, and periodically puts them on the auction house. So for the Gallardo Superleggera and the 430 Scuderia the only easy way to get them in Forza 4 will be to own them in your Forza 3 garage (since in Forza 3 both CAN be bought in the dealership, and not really for all that high a price), but they will be available though other (less convenient) means.

(And for the non-unicorn and unicorn-to-be cars on the list, yes, the point is that you will be gifted them for free in Forza 4 so you won't have to use your credits to acquire them again. It is maybe also worth pointing out that you aren't exactly importing -- you don't get your F3 car with its paintjob and history and everything, you just get the F4 version of the car gifted to you. Also, you only get one of each car; ie, even if you own ten LF-As in F3, you will get one for free in F4.)

Based on reports from folks with preview copies of the game, it sounds like the following cars will now be unicorns in Forza 4, so the import from Forza 3 will be something of loyalty bonus for long time players of the series:
2007 430 Scuderia
2007 Gallardo Superleggera

So be sure you have at the very least those two in your Forza 3 garage before you start Forza 4.

I think the ZR1, the 458 Italia, and the LF-A were all DLC and hence that import is also a bit of a loyalty bonus, and obviously the other three cars were the Forza 3 unicorns so that import makes sense.

If I can't just buy some of the cars I want in the game, I can just buy them off you guys in the car club, right? Cos this whole pre-order bonus/unicorn thing is starting to hurt my head.

Gravey, I'm never sure, on a scale of 1-10, just how serious you are when you post. – Minarchist

If I can't just buy some of the cars I want in the game, I can just buy them off you guys in the car club, right? Cos this whole pre-order bonus/unicorn thing is starting to hurt my head.

Well, if someone is willing to sell one. That takes it out of their garage though. You can borrow from the car club though, maybe that's indefinitely?

Right, that would make sense. Well, probably not going to be an issue since I like the less splashy cars anyway, although I do want that 1965 Mustang (my dad used to have the 1964 1/2 Mustang 260, and I've got to find some way to connect him with video games).

Hey man, I'll race you anytime! I mean, you'll crush me, but maybe you can give me some pointers. But seriously, I love racing with the GWJ crew! ALL of you!

I hope everyone realizes I was merely yanking Thin_J's chain. Simply a case of piston envy. I'd love to have his racing chops.

Farscry makes an interesting point though. Perhaps we can convince him to "school us" in a more conventional fashion.

Oh, I knew you were just tweaking him, but I think sometimes we do that a bit too much since he really is one of the best racers in the GWJ lineup. I'm solidly in the bottom 50 percent, but it's still fun anyway. The only time I ever get frustrated is when I'm actually running a good race and taking corners sticking to what I think is my line, but either I'm screwing up and knock someone off the course, or that's what happens to me. That's never fun for either driver and sometimes tempers flare up a little and kill the fun-vibe.

"We are at our best when we work together. We are at our worst when we expend valuable and finite energy and resources destroying one another." - Paleocon, regarding humanity.

I am looking forward to some good competition when this releases. The racing together bit will be fun. But, realistically the asynchronous competition will give Forza 4 the legs 3 didn't have. We just all get too busy with life and other games. I am hoping that somehow the asynchronous times can be used in qualifying for online races with others.

My understanding is that it works like auto log, so really just TT. It will be interesting to see if they require fixed setups for that or if they allow customized. Also, factor in driving aids and there could possibly be some fairness issues. Obviously with a sim this is a whole lot more tricky than something like NFS.

Never been a big fan of wheels. My ex-brother-in-law had one of those like $300 dollar ones for Gran Turismo and I sucked so bad with it and I could never figure out why seeing as how I am decent with a controller and I can drive a real car just fine. In the end I am just not into racing games enough to justify the cost.

In the end I am just not into racing games enough to justify the cost.

That's just it, really just something for us sim freaks.

I noticed something at the Forza booth at Laguna Seca though. They had all the wheels set up incorrectly and the load cell setting for the brake was all off. I fixed it for them in about 15 minutes and they were all surprised with how much better the wheel felt.

I think that is typical of the average consumer that gets a wheel like this. It is going to feel terrible if it isn't set up right.

It is less an issue with the console sims but often the on-wheel settings are still critical. With PC sims it can take days to get the feel right because are messing with software too. But once you do, provided race sims are your thing, there is nothing quite like it.

I might have accidentally preordered a Fanatec CSR setup last week (the setup used in that review) to replace my badly aging Microsoft Wireless Wheel. I have no illusions that I will somehow become a better driver, but playing Forza 2 with that MSWW is what made me really start to get the magic of sim racers thanks to the immersion of matching the hardware with the software. (I had played Forza 1 previously, but just with a controller, always with all assists on, and I had treated it more like an arcade racer with a big selection of modifiable cars.) Anyway, it seemed like it was finally time to go down the rabbit hole of getting real sim quality hardware to see just how much more of that sense I can get at. I just wish I had an appropriate place in my house to start getting a cockpit set up, but the only space really available is in out of the way back rooms where I don't really fancy doing my gaming.

Here's hoping that they manage to get the shipping right this time, unlike when I ordered a wheel stand from them a few years ago.

I might have accidentally preordered a Fanatec CSR setup last week (the setup used in that review) to replace my badly aging Microsoft Wireless Wheel. I have no illusions that I will somehow become a better driver, but playing Forza 2 with that MSWW is what made me really start to get the magic of sim racers thanks to the immersion of matching the hardware with the software. (I had played Forza 1 previously, but just with a controller, always with all assists on, and I had treated it more like an arcade racer with a big selection of modifiable cars.) Anyway, it seemed like it was finally time to go down the rabbit hole of getting real sim quality hardware to see just how much more of that sense I can get at. I just wish I had an appropriate place in my house to start getting a cockpit set up, but the only space really available is in out of the way back rooms where I don't really fancy doing my gaming.

Here's hoping that they manage to get the shipping right this time, unlike when I ordered a wheel stand from them a few years ago.

Yeah, hopefully Fanatec has their shizzt together the next few months. I don't know if you know about this blog that the Fanatec CEO does, but it can be helpful to know what is going on with production and shipping.

You will love the wheel if you can get it setup right. The mount on that thing sucks though, so you may want to get their big metal clamp or plan on hard-mounting it.

Also, for anyone that ever wants to demo my racing setup, I live in Lacey, WA now. If you are an established goodjer, you are welcome. I'll be out if town a lot from November to March but other than that, I'm fairly flexible with my schedule. I have a TM T500RS and a Fanatec GT2 in a home built cockpit. I'll be getting the CSR Elite when that is released, I'm guessing February.